the new musical for anyone who had a heart

BILL KENWRIGHT AND LAURIE MANSFIELD PRESENT

BAFTA AWARD WINNING JEFF POPE'S

CILLA - THE MUSICAL is the new spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed hit ITV television series by Bafta Award winner, Jeff Pope. It tells the extraordinary story of the teenage girl from Liverpool whose teenage dreams of stardom lead to her becoming one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers of all time.

It’s an introduction by a young John Lennon to music mogul Brian Epstein that changes Pricilla White’s life forever. By the age of just 25 she would be known as singer and TV Star Cilla Black, Number One selling artist and at the fore-front of the Brit-Pop music scene.

The musical score is the ultimate soundtrack to the 60’s including Cilla’s greatest hits Anyone Who Had a Heart, Alfie and Something Tells Me, Twist and Shout by the Beatles, California Dreamin by The Mamas and The Papas’ and many more.

CILLA - THE MUSICAL is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, JEFF POPE (The Moorside, Philomena, From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs, Little Boy Blue).

‘KARA LILY HAYWORTH IS A SUPERSTAR…YOU’LL LAUGH, CRY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. CILLA THE MUSICAL IS SIMPLY FLAWLESS’

★★★★★

‘HAS THE AUDIENCE ON ITS FEET, AND DOES HER MEMORY PROUD’

★★★★

★★★★★

PETER GRANT - WIRRAL GLOBE

'KARA LILY HAYWORTH'S PERFORMANCE IS MESMERISING'

★★★★

UNDERDOG REVIEWS

KARA LILY HAYWORTH TO PLAY CILLA IN NEW MUSICAL

Following weeks of open auditions at venues up and down the country – the producers of CILLA – THE MUSICAL have found their star. KARA LILY HAYWORTH has fought off thousands of hopefuls to be named as the girl who will step into the Legend’s coveted shoes in the first ever musical about the star’s life.

Cilla - The Musical, is a spectacular and heart-warming musical adaptation of the critically acclaimed ITV mini-series based on the early life of Cilla Black, by BAFTA award winner, Jeff Pope(The Moorside, Philomena, From The Cradle To The Grave, Mrs Biggs). The new musical, opens in Cilla’s hometown at the Liverpool Empire from Thursday 7th – 16th September before embarking on a nationwide tour.

Kara queued for four hours at London’s Dominion Theatre to have her chance to audition in the first rounds. She made it through to the final 30 before being chosen to do her final audition at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Robert Willis said, “We wanted somebody who wasn’t going to impersonate my mum but someone who could capture her spirit. Kara came in with her huge personality and amazing voice – when I saw the response of the audience at the Cavern, I knew she was the one my mum would have wanted!”

Originally from Watford, Kara trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She recently performed in Secret Cinema’s Moulin Rouge and this will be her first leading role in a big new musical…and her first time on tour!

She said “When I was 11 I was shopping with my mum and bumped into Cilla and asked her for an autograph. I told her I wanted to be an actress – she laughed and said ‘It’s a tough industry, but if you really work hard and go for it, you’ll be just fine.’ She was a huge inspiration to me as a child; I grew up watching her on Blind Date every Saturday night with my Nan. To be chosen to play her is such an honour and I’m so excited to take on the role. To open in her hometown of Liverpool is so special and a real privilege.”

"A Musical about the late Cilla Black, one of Britain's most beloved entertainers, will open in Liverpool - the city of her birth - in the autumn."